BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks advanced on Thursday,
with underlying sentiment supported by encouraging economic data from Germany
and U.K. as well as expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated on Wednesday that the U.S. job
market is cooling and that the central bank will act 'when and as' needed
regardless of political factors.

There are expectations that a U.S. government report due later in the day will
show consumer price inflation continued to moderate in June.

Closer home, soft inflation data from Germany left the door open for another
European Central Bank rate cut in September.

The consumer price index rose 2.2 percent in June, following May's 3-month high
of 2.4 percent. That was in line with the flash data published earlier.

EU-harmonized inflation also softened to 2.5 percent from 2.48 percent, as
estimated.

Elsewhere, data showed the U.K. economy rebounded at a faster-than-expected pace
in May, adding to doubts about the possibility of an August rate cut by the Bank
of England.

Real GDP grew 0.4 percent in May after showing no growth in April, the Office
for National Statistics reported. The actual growth was double the expected 0.2
percent expansion.

The pan European STOXX 600 was up 0.4 percent at 518.69 after rising 0.9 percent
on Wednesday.

The German DAX edged up 0.2 percent, France's CAC 40 added half a percent and
the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.3 percent.

In corporate news, Hugo Boss rose about 2 percent after Frasers Group increased
its stake in the German fashion brand.

Fielmann surged 3.5 percent. The eyewear company forecast improved EBT margin
for 2024 and 2025 after posting encouraging results for the first half.

Suedzucker slumped 4.3 percent after the sugar producer posted a 45 percent fall
in first-quarter earnings.

French media group Vivendi rallied 2.2 percent after JP Morgan placed the stock
on its 'positive catalyst watch.

British water company Pennon soared 7.5 percent after naming an insider as its
new CFO.

Peer Severn Trent rallied 3 percent after reporting a strong start to the year.

Oil services firm John Wood declined 1.2 percent after revenues fell 6 percent
in the six months to 30 June.

Hays climbed 1.1 percent. The recruiter said it expects full-year profit to be
around the bottom end of the market consensus range.



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